Letters to the Editor

Trapping talk

While standing in front of the Montanan's for Trap-Free Public Lands
booth at the Apple Days festivities in Hamilton, I witnessed one of our
members getting elbowed in the stomach and pushed back into a propane
heater by a man who was obviously unhappy with our gathering of
signatures.

We are trying to get an initiative on the ballot that would let
people vote on whether recreational trapping on public lands in Montana
should continue. The 63-year-old gentleman who was elbowed was the same
fellow whose dog got caught in a couple of leg hold traps last winter.
He has been helping us ever since.

We were all shocked to see the anger that gets directed our way by
members of the opposition and we wonder: Whatever happened to civil
discourse? Numerous studies are consistent in reporting that people who
are cruel to animals are much more likely to be violent toward other
people.

Is trapping cruel to animals? Is it appropriate on our shared public
land? Let's let the voters decide in November 2010. Please sign our
petition to help get the question on the ballot.